Method and machine for packing strips of material

Abstract

A method of packing strips of material such as bacon by feeding a film over a roll having a cylindrical outer surface, feeding strips or slices of material onto the film over the roll and picking up the film with the strips thereon from the roll. A machine is disclosed for performing these steps in a synchronized manner. Further, there is disclosed a method of preparing food from strips of bacon or the like by heating the combination of film and food strips alternately with the food strips or the film sheet next to the grill.

I claim: 
     
       1. A machine for packing strips of material comprising a roll having a cylindrical outer surface, means for passing a film continuously upwardly and over the top of said roll with said film in contact with said roll at an area of said outer surface which area is moving forwardly and upwardly, said roll containing passages therein leading from the interior of said roll to the underside of said film, means for withdrawing air through said passages to thereby draw said film tightly to said surface at said area, means for delivering said strips onto said film over said forwardly and upwardly moving area, means for blocking said passages at an area on the surface of said roll where said passages are moving forwardly and downwardly, and means for picking up and removing said film with said strips thereon at said last mentioned area. 
     
     
       2. A machine for packing strips of material comprising a roll having a cylindrical outer surface, said roll containing an annular channel in said outer surface, means for passing film over said roll in conformity with said surface, conveyor means for passing said strips, one following another, onto said film over said surface of the roll whereby said strips are disposed on said film in spaced relationship with the trailing edge of one strip adjacent the forward edge of the following strip, and means extending into said channel and under said film for picking up and removing said film from said roll with said strips thereon, said pickup means including a conveyor having a belt extending into said channel. 
     
     
       3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 in which said pickup means includes a finger member the end of which extends into said channel and in which said belt extends about said end of said finger member.